Rare ‘planet parade’ to appear above WA, along with snow moon. When to watch

Sky watchers across Washington state can see a full moon and a rare six-planet parade in February.

The Evergreen State is home to some of the best spots for stargazing in the nation, McClatchy Media previously reported.

Here’s when to look up:

When’s the best time to see the February 2026 full moon?

In February, the full moon falls on the first of the month.

The second full moon of 2026 will reach peak illumination at 2:09 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, according to online calendar Time and Date.

Why is February’s full moon called the snow moon?

The February full moon is known as the snow moon due to the heavy snowfall typical in the Northern Hemisphere at this time of year, according to astronomy app Star Walk.

Other names for February’s full moon include bald eagle moon, black bear moon, raccoon moon and hungry moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

“This year, the snow moon will appear in the constellation Cancer, shining near the bright Beehive star cluster,” Star Walk said in its monthly astronomical event roundup.

Will solar eclipse be visible in Washington?

February’s new moon will coincide with a special astronomical event and a holiday.

This lunar phase falls on Tuesday, Feb. 17 — the same day as the Lunar New Year.

“On this day, the moon moves directly in front of the sun,” Star Walk said, “creating an annular solar eclipse, often called a ‘ring of fire,’ when a thin circle of sunlight remains visible around the moon.”

Unfortunately, the annular solar eclipse will only be visible in Antarctica and surrounding ocean areas, according to Space.com.

What’s the best way to watch parade of planets?

The big astronomical event in February is a rare “planetary parade,” according to NASA.

You’ll be able to see Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter shortly after sunset on Feb. 28, according to the space agency.

“Four of those planets will be visible to the unaided eye, weather permitting,” NASA said.

However, you might need a telescope to view Uranus and Neptune, the space agency said, noting that “Mercury can sometimes be harder to spot, too.”

“On most nights, weather permitting, you can spot at least one bright planet in the night sky,” NASA public engagement specialist Preston Dyches wrote in a Feb. 4 article. “While two or three planets are commonly visible in the hours around sunset, occasionally four or five bright planets can be seen simultaneously with the naked eye.”

These events are known as “planet parades” or “planetary alignments,” Dyches said, and can “generate significant public interest.”

Planetary lineups with Venus and Mercury are particularly noteworthy, according to Dyches.

“Both orbit closer to the Sun than Earth, with smaller, faster orbits than the other planets,” Dyches said, noting that Venus is only visible for a couple of months at a time while Mercury can appear for just a few days.

Look toward the southern sky to catch glimpses of most of these planets, and near the moon to see Jupiter.

When will lunar eclipse visible in Washington state?

A total lunar eclipse will be visible on the West Coast and the rest of North America just before sunset on Tuesday, March 3, according to NASA.

“Lunar eclipses occur when Earth is positioned precisely between the moon and sun – shading the moon in Earth’s shadow,” NASA said.

The shadow causes the moon to appear a deep red color, inspiring the nickname “blood moon.”

The previous total lunar eclipse was in November 2022.

This story was originally published January 31, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Rare ‘planet parade’ to appear above WA, along with snow moon. When to watch."